Compare Montessori Curriculum International Schools in Japan

Global Indian International School Tokyo – Kita Kasai Campus opened in April 2023 and is located in Edogawa City, on the eastern side of Tokyo. The campus accepts students from ages 3 to 18 and offers Pre-Primary through Highschool education. According to the school website, Kita Kasai campus provides three academic programmes: the Global Montessori Plus (GMP) programme for early years, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), and the Indian CBSE curriculum. The IB PYP curriculum includes English as the primary language of instruction, with Japanese or French offered as a second language. The campus is accessible from Nishi-Kasai Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, with nearby Toei Bus connections. GIIS Tokyo also lists a range of co-curricular activities across its campuses, including coding, dance and sports such as soccer and basketball, which support students’ learning beyond the classroom.

Tokyo International Public School (TIPS) is an English-medium school in Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, with campuses in Nishi-Kasai and Naka-Kasai. It offers a Montessori kindergarten program for children in K1 (ages 3–4) and K2/K3 (ages 4–6), with learning goals that include early literacy, numeracy foundations, social development and hands-on skill-building. For primary years, TIPS provides a Cambridge Primary program for Grade 1 to Grade 5. The school says it aims to connect Japanese and international communities through its English-medium approach. The school also notes that the Nishi-Kasai campus is an approved facility for government-related subsidies for eligible kindergarten-aged children, with subsidy amounts depending on the local ward.

Seisen International School is a private Catholic school in Tokyo serving the international community, with a total K–12 population of about 700 students representing over 40 nationalities. Teaching is in English, and the school encourages students to speak English within the school. Seisen describes itself as an International Baccalaureate Continuum school, offering Montessori and the IB Primary Years Programme in Kindergarten, IB PYP in Elementary, IB MYP in Grades 6–10 and the IB Diploma Programme in High School. Facilities on the campus include science labs, a design tech room, music rooms, a drama room, library media centers, a chapel, a gymnasium and a field and tennis courts. Seisen also highlights service and leadership opportunities for students as part of school life.

Tokyo Bay International School (TBIS) operates in the Koto-ku district of Tokyo, offering a curriculum that combines Montessori methods for early learners with the Cambridge International framework for older students. The school provides education for students aged 3 to 18, culminating in IGCSE and A-Level qualifications. Facilities include a dedicated fine arts academy, a science laboratory and a computer lab where students engage with technology. A distinctive feature of TBIS is its specialized focus on emerging technologies through its "Future Leaders" initiative. The school maintains exclusive laboratories where students from an early age receive practical lessons in Robotics, Drones and Coding, which are also supported by Virtual Reality (VR) tools. This program is designed to integrate logic and creativity within the daily timetable. Located near Kameido Station, the campus utilizes surrounding local parks to supplement its physical education program, ensuring a variety of outdoor environments for its 100+ students.

Saint Maur International School is a co-educational day school in Yamate, a historical, cultural and residential area of central Yokohama, on the same site where it was founded in 1872. The school accepts children from age 2½ through Grade 12. In Grades 9–10, Saint Maur uses the IGCSE framework and in Grades 11–12 most courses are IB courses. Students may take the IB Diploma or take individual IB courses. The school also offers students the opportunity to take Advanced Placement exams. Facilities highlighted by the school include Fine Arts spaces, science facilities, a Sports & Activities Center and Robotics Labs.

Oakwood Tokyo International School is an English-instruction nursery through elementary school in Nakamachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, and it describes itself as an IB PYP Candidate School. The school offers onsite nursery care starting at 10 months, plus preschool and kindergarten. It also runs after-school programs for children up to 10 years old. The elementary program opened with Grade 1 in September 2025 and states a maximum class size of 8 students. Facilities described for younger children include spaces such as “The Forest”, “The Gym”, “Rainbow Castle”, a climbing wall and a tree house (ages 3+). For transportation, Oakwood notes a school bus service for families in and around Setagaya-ku.

GIIS Tokyo’s Seishincho campus is a preschool campus in Edogawa-ku, described as being located along the Arakawa River side in Seishincho. The campus delivers the Global Montessori Plus (GMP) programme, which GIIS describes as combining Montessori education with “digital-era methods,” and it is offered at Seishincho and Kitakasai. GIIS highlights GMP’s “5 pillars,” including the Excelerate Programme, Multi-faceted Learning, iPlay Programme, iCare Programme and a Future Ready Programme. For admissions planning, GIIS publishes a Tokyo fees page that includes the GMP fee structure and notes that each academic year consists of four terms.

Global Wisdom International School’s Kasai Campus, located near Kasai Station in eastern Tokyo, provides education for students ages 2 to 14. The campus follows a mixed Montessori curriculum for its Kindergarten students and the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary curriculums for Grades 1 through 8. A distinctive feature of the school is its specialized After-School Clubs, which offer concrete skill development beyond standard classes. For example, the Robotics Club allows students to build personalized robots using school-provided kits and chips while earning level certifications in AI and robotics. Additionally, students can train with a National Level Chess Coach or prepare for Math and Science Olympiad exams. With a student body of just over 100 children representing 10 nationalities, the school maintains an intimate, highly individualized learning environment. Instruction is in English, and supplementary language clubs in Japanese, Hindi, and Tamil help students deepen their multilingual abilities.

The Montessori School of Tokyo in central Minato-ku offers Montessori education for children approximately 18 months to 15 years in a central Tokyo urban setting, with convenient access via Hiroo and Azabu-Juban stations. Rooted in the Montessori philosophy, the school’s curriculum emphasises self-directed learning, independence and purposeful hands-on exploration across age-integrated classrooms. MST operates several programmes including Early Years (Little People & Sunshine), Elementary and Adolescent (Erdkinder), with a learning environment that includes spacious classrooms and a garden where children engage in outdoor experiences. Instruction is primarily in English, and the community reflects international participation from many countries. MST is fully accredited by the International Montessori Council and is a member of Japan Council of International Schools, reinforcing its commitment to authentic Montessori practice. Parents often note the school’s emphasis on confidence, respect, compassion and meaningful work as core to the student experience.

MEES International School’s Hakusan campus is in Bunkyo, Central Tokyo, about a 5-minute walk from Hakusan Station. Children can join Preschool (ages 1–6) and Elementary (ages 6–12). Preschool combines Montessori and Reggio Emilia influences with hands-on, project-based learning with English as the main language of instruction. Elementary also centers on project-based learning and lists large open spaces plus a Makerspace/workshop and gym studio. A distinctive feature is “MEES The Forest,” described as regular one-day trips for morning/full-day students aged 4 and up, connecting learning with outdoor experiences. Optional bus service is available and Hakusan afterschool options listed by the school include clubs such as Tech Club, MakerSpace builds and Judo.

MEES International School’s Sendagi campus in Bunkyo, Tokyo, serves children aged 1 to 6, offering preschool education grounded in a blend of Montessori principles, Reggio Emilia influences and project-based learning that encourages hands-on exploration and natural curiosity. English is the primary language of instruction, and the mixed-age classrooms support collaboration across developmental stages. The preschool’s extended nursery option runs until late afternoon and an optional bus service is available for families. The curriculum integrates science, art, language and social skills through meaningful activities and projects, designed to support early childhood growth. The school also offers an afternoon immersion program to strengthen English communication and classroom engagement. Outdoor experiences such as forest school elements are incorporated across the broader MEES community, adding elements of nature and experiential learning. MEES emphasizes personalized progress with multi-age interaction and project work to nurture confidence, problem-solving and self-expression.

Apple Learning International School is located in Nishi-kasai, Tokyo. The school offers a Preschool programme for children aged 2 to 6, with structured activities guided by Montessori philosophy. English is introduced through phonics, and mathematics is taught using materials designed to help children understand abstract concepts. For primary years, the school states it follows the Indian CBSE syllabus for Class 1 to Class 3. A regular feature mentioned by the school is weekly gymnastics as part of physical education, held every Friday.

Global Wisdom International School (GWIS) operates in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward with two campuses: Funabori and Kasai. The Funabori Campus (3-1-4 Funabori, Edogawa-ku) provides a Montessori-based pre-school and kindergarten program for ages 2 to 6, emphasizing discovery and enquiry in an activity-rich environment. The Kasai Campus offers Cambridge Primary (and plans Cambridge Lower Secondary for future Grades 1–8). GWIS is officially recognized as a Cambridge International School, providing Cambridge Primary and, in future, Cambridge Lower Secondary. The school hosts a community of more than 100 students from roughly 10 nationalities, supporting an international atmosphere and cross-cultural learning. The learning approach blends hands-on Montessori practice with theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, and Bruner to balance free exploration with guided study. In addition to core curriculum, GWIS runs extensive after-school programs up to age 10, alongside arts, language development, and other extracurriculars to support holistic development. Admission is open for the 2026-27 academic year.